Compare towns
North Reading vs Dover vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | North Reading | Dover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
5,930Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Dover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Reading |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.